Lake Grace, Western Australia

Lake Grace Western Australia
Lake Grace train station.
Lake Grace
Coordinates	33°06′S 118°28′E / 33.1°S 118.46°E / -33.1; 118.46Coordinates: 33°06′S 118°28′E / 33.1°S 118.46°E / -33.1; 118.46
Population	507 (2011 census)[1]
Established	1911
Postcode(s)	6353
Elevation	286 m (938 ft)
Location	345 km (214 mi) ESE of Perth 119 km (74 mi) E of Wagin
LGA(s)	Shire of Lake Grace
State electorate(s)	Wagin
Federal Division(s)	O'Connor
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.2 °C 74 °F 10.1 °C 50 °F 353.3 mm 13.9 in

Lake Grace is a town in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 345 kilometres (214 mi) from Perth along State Route 107 between Wagin and Ravensthorpe. It is the main town in the Shire of Lake Grace. At the 2006 census, Lake Grace had a population of 507.^[1]

History

The area was first taken up for agriculture around 1911, and in 1913 a school was established here and named Lake Grace after the nearby lake. In 1914 the government planned to extend the railway network from Kukerin to Lake Grace, and local settlers lobbied for a townsite to be declared at the terminus. The railway was completed on 25 November 1916, and terminated close to the site of the existing school. The townsite of Lake Grace was gazetted later in 1916. The branch railway was extended to the ultimate terminus at Newdegate on 15 February 1926 and a further branch from Lake Grace to Hyden opened on 5 April 1933, thus making Lake Grace a junction and therefore some importance for train working operations.^[2]

In 1922 the Reverend John Flynn visited the town to assess the suitability for establishing an Australian Inland Mission (AIM) hospital. The Western Australian Government agreed to subsidise the building of the hospital, which was subsequently built by AIM and opened in April 1926 staffed by two nurses, Olive Bennett and Helen Cousin. In July 1934 the Lake Grace Hospital Board repaid the loan from the Australian Inland Mission and took over the ownership of the hospital. The hospital served an area of 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 sq mi) including providing maternity ward facilities. The hospital ceased operation in 1952 with the construction and replacement by the Lake Grace Memorial Hospital. The Lake Grace AIM Hospital building was in disrepair by 1983 with the state Government deciding to demolish the building. Protests by former staff and the local community halted the destruction, and the building was restored as a museum with the help of the Lake Grace Shire Council and the local community.

Lake Grace Australian Inland Mission Hospital Museum

The building is one of three remaining Australian Inland Mission hospitals and is listed on local, state and national heritage registers.

The lake after which the townsite was named was given the name Lake Grace by Marshall Fox, the District Surveyor, in 1910. It is named after Grace Brockman, the wife of the then Surveyor General, Frederick S Brockman. Grace Brockman became famous in 1876 when she, as Grace Bussell, and her stockman Sam Isaacs, rescued many people from the wreck of the "Georgette" near the mouth of the Margaret River.^[3]

Present day

Lake Grace is located on the "cross roads" with it being half way between Perth and Esperance as well as acting as a main through point for those traveling between Albany and the Wheatbelt. Many tourists use these alternative routes when traveling to and from the Eastern States.

The surrounding areas produce wheat and other cereal crops. The town is a receival site for Cooperative Bulk Handling.^[4] Recently changes have included the development of the "Multi Art Space", the introduction of a visitor centre in the old station master's house and an improved townscape. A range of economic development is underway including a new residential sub-division and light industrial area. There is also Living Towns Lake Grace where over 130 commercial enterprises are working together to improve the local economy.

The artists have added a new dimension to the town. The "Multi Art Space" allows local residents to learn and participate in key artistic projects. Many of the artistic works are based on recycled materials such as plastic bags, aluminum cans and plastic bottle tops. A number of local residents have become award winning artists including Kerrie Argent who won the Sculptures by the Sea people's choice in 2010.

Tourism has also come to the fore with the Lake Grace Visitor Centre open five days a week. The Visitor's Centre is located in the old station master's house which was restored by local residents during 2005. On display are local information guides, the history of Lake Grace, locally made products and a native seed bank. Lake Grace is part of the region that contains the most diverse recognized flora in the World. Details can be found in "Flourish" a publication available from the Visitor's Centre.

The locals also played a key role in restoring the AIM hospital. This is a wonderful museum that clearly shows what primary health care was like prior to 1960.

Lake Grace contains a district high school with distance learning available for years 11and 12. The Shire is also building a Childcare centre. There is a district hospital and a Shire provided medical centre with a doctor and other health services available.

There are three banks in town: Westpac Bank, Bank West and Rabobank that opened in September 2009. The shopping facilities include a local shopping forum with IGA supermarket open seven days, a butcher, health & beauty, hair dresser and clothing shop. The two cafes Rosies and Arjos are well patronised, with the latter open Monday to Saturday. There is also a Retravision, CCL Hardware (open seven days) and resident electrical contractor and plumber.

There is a range of recreational facilities available including a 50-metre pool, sporting complex including footy, cricket, tennis, basketball and hockey. The Sportsman's Club also has a synthetic bowling surface allowing bowls to be played all year round. There is also a golf club and air strip.

Accommodation is available in the form of the local hotel, roadhouse motel, the Salt Bush Inn and the Lake Grace Caravan Park. There are also a number of B&Bs in the area.

The local shire office is based in Lake Grace and there is a Community Resource Centre (telecentre).

The town is a stop on the Transwa bus service to Esperance.^[5]

Geography

Climate

Lake Grace experiences a steppe climate (Köppen climate classification BSh).

Natural disasters

In late 2005 and early 2006, Lake Grace experienced two natural disasters. The first was a hail storm on 16 October 2005, which destroyed 500 hectares of wheat and barley crop and damaged a further 5,500 hectares, with some farmers reporting fields covered by up to 25 cm (10 in) of hail and kilometres of road turned white. It was accompanied by about 60 mm of rainfall.^[7]

On 13 January 2006, the town was flooded by Tropical Cyclone Clare, receiving 230 mm of rainfall. It was declared a disaster zone by the State Government. Just over a week later, the town was hit again by rain from Tropical Cyclone Daryl. Large pumps were brought in to help dry out flooded roads, and the main highway to Perth was reopened six weeks later.^[8][9]

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Lake Grace normally receives 353.3 mm of rainfall per annum with 16.3 mm in January.^[10]

References

External links

• Shire of Lake Grace